ACRO’s Mentorship Program provides a unique opportunity for medical students, residents and attending Radiation Oncologists from around the country to be matched together. Our online questionnaire helps our team better understand your personal interests and goals in a mentorship relationship. Based on these responses, mentors and mentees may be paired based on any number of commonalities – academics, private practice, disease site, treatment techniques, geography, or any other shared passion.

We have revamped the Mentorship Program for this upcoming academic year. Rather than a traditional one-on-one pairing between mentor and mentee, we have adopted a “pod” system where there will be 1-2 attendings, 2-3 residents, and 4-6 medical students, roughly, per pod. Our hope is that this will facilitate more mentorship opportunities and discussion between pod participants.

Once assigned, we will send messages to all members of their respective pods. We will leave it up to the pods to decide on virtual or in-person meetings and/or communication means (group chats, email threads, etc.). We hope that mentors and mentees can also attend the annual ASTRO and ACRO conferences for in person meet-ups. We believe these relationships are mutually beneficial and allow for an important dialogue between trainees and practitioners. For residents in particular, it provides a means to ask questions, find new research initiatives, or simply network beyond the reach of their home institution. For medical students, it provides an opportunity to ask questions about the field of radiation oncology and applying into our specialty.

If you are a trainee or early career Radiation Oncologist interested in being paired with a mentor, or if you're a more experienced ACRO member willing to become a mentor, please fill out our online application form.

Excellence in Mentorship Award:

In partnership with Revenue Cycle Coding Strategies, the American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO) Scholarship Committee is excited to offer three awards to recognize outstanding mentorship. These individuals demonstrate mentoring in clinical, research, translational, equity advancement, and professional development of radiation oncology professionals. The committee is acutely aware of the impact that exceptional mentors have in a trainee’s career and life and would like to highlight outstanding individuals in our field. Click here to learn more and make a nomination.

Testimonials from Mentors and Mentees:

"I got involved with ACRO in my first year of residency, and the organizational culture of mentorship attracted my very much. I got involved with ACRO resident committee and had the honor of working as the chair of mentorship subcommittee. I worked with medical students, residents, new practitioners and experienced physicians to arrange 1 to 1 mentorship. Personally, I had 2 mentors over these years, who have helped me a lot with career guidance. I keep my connections with my mentors over the emails or phone calls over the years. Overall, it was a great experience to get involved with ACRO mentorship program. I will strongly encourage medical students and residents to get involved."

  Toms Vengaloor Thomas, MD
  Chief Resident, Dept. of Radiation Oncology
  University of Mississippi Medical Center

"As a former ACRO Mentee and now an ACRO mentor, I know how valuable this is to both the mentor and the mentee. No matter what sector you’re in, you have important things to share and important things to learn. The connections you make in ACRO can have a profoundly positive influence on your growth as a mentor and as a mentee- mentorship can go both ways! As an ACRO mentor now, it gives me so much joy to connect with our next generation. Working with residents keeps you on your toes and gives you an entirely different perspective!"

  Brandi Page, MD
  Assistant Professor – Radiation Oncology and Molecular Sciences
  Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

"The ACRO mentorship program has connected me to dynamic, energetic, and connected mentees and mentors. The relationships I’ve built through this program have helped me tremendously. I love the ACRO mentorship program and would strongly recommend my fellow rad oncs participate in it!"

  Parul Barry, MD
  Clinical Assistant Professor
  UPMC Hillman Cancer Center